Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (Urdu: محمد طاہر القادری‎) (born 19 February 1951) is a Pakistani politician and Islamic scholar of Sufism. He was also a professor of international constitutional law at the University of the Punjab. Qadri is also the founding chairman of Minhaj-ul-Quran International.

Early years
Qadri studied law at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, where he graduated with an LLB in 1974, gaining a Gold Medal for his academic performances. Following a period of legal practice as an advocate, he taught law at the University of the Punjab from 1978 to 1983 and then gained his PhD.

Political career
On 25 May 1989, Qadri founded a political party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). This party aims to introduce the culture of democracy, promote economic stability, and improve the state of human rights, justice, and women’s roles in Pakistan. The PAT also aims to remove corruption from Pakistani politics. Its official website contains its formal manifesto. In 1990, Qadri participated in the national election. In 1991, PAT and TNFJ (Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafria A shia political group), now known as Tehreek-e-Jafria,

From 1989 to 1993, Qadri continuously worked as an opposition leader and trying to indicate the government’s mistakes and to suggest ways for improving the situation in the political, educational, and economical fields. In 1992, he presented a complete working plan for interest-free banking in Pakistan covering all kinds of national and international transaction which was recognized and appreciated by all sections of the society including industrial and banking professionals. PAT offices were also opened in major foreign countries.

He was also elected as a Member of the National Assembly for his constituency. On 29 November 2004, Qadri announced his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly.Qadri views an Islamic state as a Muslim-majority country which respects freedom, the rule of law, global human rights (including religious freedom), social welfare, women’s rights and the rights of minorities. He also claims that the Constitution of Medina “declared the state of Madinah as a political unit”. He also mentions that the Constitution declared the “indivisible composition of the Muslim nation (Ummah)”. He believes that “a constitution is a man-made law and by no means it can be declared superior to a Allah-made law.”

Long March 2012
Main article: Long March (Pakistan)
In December 2012, after living for seven years in Toronto, Canada, Qadri returned to Pakistan and initiated a political campaign. Qadri called for a “million-men” march in Islamabad to protest against the government’s corruption. On 14 January 2013, a crowd marched down the city’s main avenue. Thousands of people pledged to sit-in until their demands were met. When he started the long march from Lahore about 25,000 people were with him. He told the rally in front of parliament: “There is no Parliament; there is a group of looters, thieves and dacoits [bandits] … Our lawmakers are the lawbreakers.”. After four days of sit-in, the Government and Qadri signed an agreement called the Islamabad Long March Declaration, which promised electoral reforms and increased political transparency. Although Qadri called for a “million-men” march, the estimated total present for the sit-in in Islamabad was 50,000 according to the government.

Critics have charged that the protests were a ploy by the Pakistan Armed Forces to delay elections and weaken the influence of the civilian government, citing Qadri’s close ties to the military, dual nationality and suspect foreign and Pakistani sources of funding. Lawyers for the Supreme Court of Pakistan claimed that Qadri’s demands are unfeasible because they conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan. The Tribune reported on 17 February 2013, that Qadri seemed to have capitulated on most of his demands in the Islamabad Long March Declaration.

Long March 2014
Main article: Inqilab March
In mid-August 2014, Tahir-ul-Qadri led thousands of people in hundreds of cars, buses and trucks towards the federal capital, Islamabad, from the provincial capital, Lahore.

On 17 June 2014, a violent clash occurred between the Punjab Police and PAT activists resulting in the deaths of several protesters from police gunfire.After almost 11 hours of standoff, the anti-encroachment squad of the police force launched an operation to remove the barriers from the road leading to the offices of Minhaj-ul-Quran and the residence of Tahir-ul-Qadri in Model Town, Lahore.

As of the end of September 2014, the Inqilab March began, with sit-in protests with allied partner Imran Khan, Chairman and founder of Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and organizer of 2014 Azadi March, in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. After the announcement of the Azadi March, it was expected that Tahir-ul-Qadri (heretofore refusing to ally his own march with the Azadi March) allied the PTI’s Azadi March with his own Inqilab March. This alliance between the two parties resulted in two parallel marches by Qadri and Imran Khan (with the goal of mutual protection in any civil crackdown).

Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri did not fully join their protest marches nor decline to support each other. On 10 August 2014, Qadri formally announced that his party’s political march, the Inqilab March, would proceed parallel with PTI’s Azadi march. Both marches were organized to take different routes, albeit closely mirroring each other. It is apparent that the two parties have similar objectives yet different aims and strategies. The announcement of two parallel marches by parties in opposition gave rise to speculation that a coalition between PTI and PAT was possible. The chiefs of the two parties never clearly stipulated a formal coalition; but an informal agreement to support each other was achieved On 11 August 2014, Qadri and Khan both announced that there would be two parallel marches, informally allied together for the dismissal of the government.

On 21 August 2014, Qadri said that the government had not been allowing his workers to supply food items and potable water to the participants of the sit-in.

The Daily Dawn of 31 August 2014 claimed that hundreds of people were injured in the federal capital as police battled throngs of protesters led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

It was reported that Tahir-ul-Qadri led the Eid prayer at Islamabad’s D-Chowk. The congregation was attended by Imran Khan and other political leaders, including Raja Nasir Abbas Jafary of MWM. Animal sacrifies were also offered in the name of Allah following the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail.

Main article: Azadi March
Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri did not fully join their protest marches nor decline to support each other. On 10 August 2014, Qadri formally announced that his party’s political march, the Inqilab March, would proceed parallel with PTI’s Azadi march. Both marches were organized to take different routes, albeit closely mirroring each other. It is apparent that the two parties have similar objectives yet different aims and strategies. The announcement of two parallel marches by parties in opposition gave rise to speculation that a coalition between PTI and PAT was possible. The chiefs of the two parties never clearly stipulated a formal coalition; but an informal agreement to support each other was achieved On 11 August 2014, Qadri and Khan both announced that there would be two parallel marches, informally allied together for the dismissal of the government.

Founding of Minhaj-ul-Quran
Main article: Minhaj-ul-Quran International

Qadri at the Peace for Humanity Conference, 24 September 2011
In 1987, the headquarters of Minhaj-ul-Quran, based in Lahore, Pakistan, was inaugurated by the Sufi saint Tahir Allauddin, who is regarded as the organisation’s spiritual founder;

The organisation claims to promote religious moderation, effective and sound education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony, and a moderate interpretation of Islam supposedly employing methods of Sufism. During its March 2011 session, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted special consultative status to Minhaj-ul-Quran International, Qadri also founded the Minhaj University in Lahore, of which he heads the Board of Governors, as well as an international relief charity, Minhaj Welfare Foundation.

Events
In 2006, Qadri attended the Muslims of Europe Conference in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss identity, citizenship, challenges and opportunities for European Muslims

Efforts Against TerrorismHistoric Fatwa
On 2 March 2010, Qadri issued a 600-page Fatwa on Terrorism, in which he said that “Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teaching and no justification can be provided for it”.

Qadri at a news conference in London explaining the Fatwa on Terrorism.
The fatwa gained widespread media attention and he appeared on various international media outlets. On Frost Over The World he told David Frost that the “he wanted to take Islam back from the terrorists”. The US State Department declared the fatwa to be a significant publication which takes back Islam from terrorists. Qadri told the American Foreign Policy magazine: “I am trying to bring [the terrorists] back towards humanism. This is a jihad against brutality, to bring them back towards normality. This is an intellectual jihad.”

Anti-Terrorism Camp
In August 2010 Qadri held an anti-terrorism camp for Muslim youth at the University of Warwick with the aim of tackling extremism in the UK. He organised the camp under the auspices of Minhaj-ul-Quran UK.

Seeing the Prophet in Dream
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Qadri claimed that he has seen the Prophet in dream[citation needed]. Qadri weeps as he explains a dream in which Prophet Muhammad visited him in Pakistan and ordered him to be his host since the Pakistani religious groups which had invited him failed to welcome him. He repeatedly wipes his tears and the audience sobs, Qadri says that the prophet told him: “Promise me one thing. You will have to arrange my stay. You will be responsible for my food and drink. You will be responsible for my [bus and train] ticket… And when I have to return to Medina, then too only you will buy me a ticket….”. Qadri also says that the prophet urged him to establish his religious organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran.

Faisalabad Public Gathering 2014
On 12th October 2014, Tahir ul Qadri gathered a large number of people in the ground of Dhobi Ghat. Qadri said “I will never leave my fight against this corrupt system in the middle” and “Give me note, vote and support and by God’s power I’ll give you revolution”. He also discussed Martial Law and said if a Marshal Law was enforced, it would be due to the attitude of the government.

Lahore Public Gathering 2014
Seven days after the Faisalabad Gathering, Qadri made a public gathering in Lahore on 19th october, 2014. Around 70000 chairs were placed in the Minar-e-Pakistan Ground. However, a very large number of people were standing. Qadri said “this is not a historical gathering but a History-making gathering”. He said “It will be a referendum against Nawaz government”.

The Day of Martyrs
Tahir ul Qadri and his party observed Youm-e-Shuhada(Day of Martyrs) at 9th August, 2014 in Tehreek-e-Minhaj ul Quran secretariat in Model Town. A Country-Wide clash occurred between Police and the Workers of PAT. After the gathering of People, He said “Kill all those who return home without achieving change”

Other Notable Events
He has been invited to deliver his lectures by several organisations.

In July 2011, he gave a lecture on the issues of terrorism and integration at the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia where he was invited by the member of the NSW Legislative Council, Shaoquett Moselmane MLC. Qadri also made appearances on Australian media, where he discussed Islam, terrorism and possible troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. On 24 September 2011, Minhaj-ul-Quran convened the “Peace for Humanity Conference” at Wembley Arena in London where Tahir-ul-Qadri and the assembled speakers issued a declaration of peace on behalf of religious representatives of several faiths, scholars, politicians, and 12,000 participants present from various countries. This conference was endorsed by, or received supportive messages from, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Ban Ki-Moon (Secretary General of the United Nations), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), David Cameron (British Prime Minister), Nick Clegg (British Deputy Prime Minister), Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) and others. On 30 November 2011, Qadri delivered a lecture at the “Peaceful Future of Afghanistan” conference in Istanbul, Turkey which was organised by the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution of George Mason University together with Marmara University and was attended by more than 120 Afghan leaders.

On 22 February 2012, Qadri visited Delhi for a four-week tour of India. Qadri delivered a message of peace and said: “Terrorism has no place in Islam”, while addressing the fatwa book launch in Delhi. People gathered to listen to Qadri along with government officials in Gujarat. Qadri also urged the Pakistani and Indian governments to reduce their defence expenditures and instead spend money on the welfare of poor people. He also visited Ajmer, where he was given a large reception, at which he gave a lecture on Sufism. On 4 January 2015, he declared terrorism as biggest problem of the world.

Publications
More than 400 books of Tahir ul Qadri have been published,and many books are under the pipeline, passing through various processes of publications.

List of Publications
Some of his important publications include:

Translation of Quran into Urdu
Compendium of Sunna for Posterity (Urdu)
Introduction to the Fatwa on Suicide Bombings and Terrorism
Islamic Concept of Intermediation (English)
Islamic Concept of Human Nature (English)
Creation of Man: A Review of Quran and Modern Embryology
Muhammad SAW the Merciful
Mawlid al-Nabi Celebration Permissibility
The Islamic State: True Concept and Eradicating Misconceptions (Khilafah)
Fasting and Spiritual Retreat
Islam on Mercy & Compassion
Beseeching for Help (Istighāthah)
Peace and Submission
Rights of Parents
Rights of Minorities in Islam
Human Rights in Islam
Rights of Children in Islam
Rights of the old and Disabled in Islam
Post-Demise Life of the Prophet
The City of Medina and Visit to the Prophet’s Mausoleum
Book on Oneness of Allah (Two Volumes)
Biography of Prophet (10 Volumes)
Book on Intermediation
The City of Madina and Visit ti Prophet’s
Lectures
Tahir ul Qadri has delivered more than 8000 lectures on various topics including radicalism.